Kerry citation a 'total mystery' to ex-Navy chief (John Lehman)

Sun Times ^ | August 28, 2004 | Thomas Lipscomb

[Grampa Dave]

Kerry citation a 'total mystery' to ex-Navy chief

August 28, 2004

BY THOMAS LIPSCOMB

Former Navy Secretary John Lehman has no idea where a Silver Star citation displayed on Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's campaign Web site came from, he said Friday. The citation appears over Lehman's signature.

"It is a total mystery to me. I never saw it. I never signed it. I never approved it. And the additional language it contains was not written by me," he said.

The additional language varied from the two previous citations, signed first by Adm. Elmo Zumwalt and then Adm. John Hyland, which themselves differ. The new material added in the Lehman citation reads in part: "By his brave actions, bold initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty, Lieutenant (jg) Kerry reflected great credit upon himself...."

Asked how the citation could have been executed over his signature without his knowledge, Lehman said: "I have no idea. I can only imagine they were signed by an autopen." The autopen is a device often used in the routine execution of executive documents in government.

Kerry senior adviser Michael Meehan could not be reached for comment on Kerry's records.

Thomas Lipscomb is chairman of the Center for the Digital Future in New York

[Empireoftheatom48]

It Should be DCMSM- Democrat Controlled Main Stream Media!!

[Timeout]

I'll start a thread for the WaPo article. If the admins don't delete it, I'll link it here.

[Grampa Dave]

You were one of the first if not the first on FR to question his current medals.

"You are correct. I have been raising it for months. I have sent my comments to the media, my Congressional reps, and the SBVFT. It looks like this issue is gaining some traction. I think there is a big story here. If Kerry asked for replacement medals, then he was lying just a few months ago on GMA. If he just asked for replacement citations, then it says something about Kerry's character and mental stablility.

"The fact that the Silver Star citation signed by Lehman is not identical and that the Navy just didn't make him duplicate copies of the ones in his files raises some important questions. Obviously the originals exist in his files since we have copies of them. Kerry could have just requested citations signed by the Secretrary of the Navy, which confirms the SBVFT allegations against Kerry that he manufactured his awards.


181 posted on 08/28/2004 8:15:21 AM PDT by kabar

Something is rotten with these medals and in the Pentagon.

I keep going back to Kerry's long time buddy, Wade R. Sanders who was the Asst. Secretary of Navy under the Clintoon. Who knows what he and a crew of lib "plumbers" did to Kerry's records and other records.

[ken5050]

Mahvelous essay..simply mahvelous....well thought out, and, as a bonus...well written..Haven't seen "risible" used in a sentence since the last time I read Anthony Trollpe..Score it a 9.95 out of a 10.and that's only to encourage you to pen another one..(G)

O'Neill's superb..he comes across as this soft-spoke, easy-going, middle-aged slight pudgy schlub..he gives the "appearance" of being soft..a Joe six-pack kind of guy...they underestimated him, nay, they NEVER even took him seriously.

BTW, where's Lanny Davis these days? Been replaced by Teresa, Max, and the octogenarian astronaut walking point for the Kerry troops..Man, if that is your A-team..there's BIG trouble in RIVER CITY..

[Grampa Dave]

"I saw this Lipscomb guy on TV last night--Scarborough maybe--he was terrific--he has been doing some real investigative journalism under the radar and deserves our respect."

I respect any reporter who still does investigative journalism and not the lamea$$ biased stuff that the mediots try to pass on each day as journalism.

[Wil H]

Lord, just how stupid is Kerry? Interesting indeed.

The answer is that he is not as smart as he is arrogant.

[maica]

Among all of them - they know little or nothing about the military because they have always had a low opinion of our country and our military.

Key Point - Their contempt for the military gaves them a huge blind spot. That did not huft them until after 9/11.

Now Americans have a renewed awareness and respect for those who serve to protect our country, and this new "consciousness" has completely gone over the heads of Kerry, his advisors, and supporters. They all thought they had a winner - an anti-war veteran!

[Fedora]

Ping.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1201664/posts

[MeekOneGOP]

The corn is a great touch!

Thanks! I love that too. The original pic didn't have it.
CG came up with the idea of adding that in the pic.

http://RMeek141.home.comcast.net/KerryVeggieTaleMontage1.JPG
http://RMeek141.home.comcast.net/KerryVeggieTaleMontage.JPG

[AFPhys]

I concur that a few days ago, when Lehman was hit without warning about it, he kind of knee-jerk spoke "Of course"... but now that he has had time to study the citation and the situation, he's gotten somewhat surprised and embarrassed. Certainly, if there had been some reason to make the change in the wording of the Silver Star cite, which would be an extremely unusual thing to do, he would recall having approved that.

And, Cboldt, I disagree with your take that this rewording does not constitute a material change to wording of the citation. The replay is much more powerful than the original statement, and would clearly be more impressive for a "new copy just to hang on the wall of the Senate office".

Something is not quite right here, and it is clearly easy to suspect some kind of foul play.

Sen.Kerry: PLEASE SIGN STANDARD FORM 180 so we can get this all behind us!
.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Main Stream Media more accurately called RATmedia.

[Cboldt]

This rewritten citation is completely out of the norm ...

http://www.securenet.net/3rdbn5th/valor.htm <-- Some Vietnam era Silver Star Citations

[MeekOneGOP]

[justshutupandtakeit]

Apparently you have lost your mind. Lie down a while and perhaps it will return.

[ActiveDutyUSMC]

Copies of military records to include service information, award citations and disciplinary information are stored on microfiche and archived by the Services.

If someone loses their awards, or if the serviceman's record book is destroyed for some reason, a copy of the original document is retrieved from archive and stamped "certified true copy" and signed by an official. A brand-spanking new copy is not generated, nor is the opportunity taken to embellish up the original citation.

In any case, it is stupefying to have three citations signed by three different officers for the same action and award. There is no reasonable explanation for this -- period.

Something is wrong.

[Nam Vet]

To answer some of your questions I post. I was US Navy also with orders for a one year countinuous tour in-country RVN. I arrive at Ben Hoa airport(Saigon) and reported to the Annapolis Hotel on Plantation road in Saigon. That was the Navy in-transit BOQ/BEQ. I spent one week in Saigon before locating my unit and getting a ride across country via Aussie mail plane stopping at every little firebase on the way. In country R&R required 3 months in-country, as I recall. Out of country R&R required a minimum of 6 months.

I also read that Kerry spent a month in training. Having completed my year, I reboarded that Aussie puddle-jumper and flew to Saigon and stayed at 'Camp Alpha' for 2-3 days, as I recall, before getting a Braniff flight back to Travis AFB. For me, my transit times were about 10 days in and out. Hope that helps.

Nam Vet

[kabar]

Something is rotten with these medals and in the Pentagon. I keep going back to Kerry's long time buddy, Wade R. Sanders who was the Asst. Secretary of Navy under the Clintoon. Who knows what he and a crew of lib "plumbers" did to Kerry's records and other records.

As a Navy veteran, I hope nothing like that took place. You would need a number of people to participate in such an effort, so I tend to believe that they couldn't get into the official files, which reside in St Louis, that easy.

[Mo1]

Either that or they were drunk on the idea that Kerry's service would keep the opposition in check. They believed that Bush's lack of service would shut his campaign up and leave them free to exploit and exaggerate Kerry's.

That could very well be it

All I know is this is one of the worst run campaigns I have ever seen

Even the Lib Talking Heads are having a hard time spinning this to help Kerry out

[Cboldt]

And, Cboldt, I disagree with your take that this rewording does not constitute a material change to wording of the citation.

Another possibility enters my mind, and that is the original Silver Star citations omitted language that seems to be appropriate for a SIlver Star citation. I found a page that contains quite a few example Silver Star citations from the Vietnam era.

http://www.securenet.net/3rdbn5th/valor.htm <-- Real heros

Something is not quite right here, and it is clearly easy to suspect some kind of foul play.

Yes, obviously true. Suspicion of foul play is the reasonable norm when dealing with Kerry's record. But some discrepancies have innocent explanations, and if there is a strong outcry about something innocent, well, you know what that does to the accuser.

I think Kerry requested replacement medals for the ones he said he didn't throw over the fence. I think the difference in citation language is no big deal, I doubt Lehman was personally involved. But, I can be persuaded otherwise. I just don't find the difference in language between two Silver Star citation letters to be adequate evidence.

[M-cubed]

"Can't you get replacement medals from the government or buy replacements?" <<< Used to be u could buy them at the PX...Reminds me of getting to go home for Christmas during basic training in '66....Some of my fellow trainees on the train had more ribbons, ropes, and stripes then Westmoreland!...One guy had even morphed in to a 2nd Lt.!!